“Are you certain that place will open within these two years? Don’t miscalculate the timing. If you’re off by even a few years, I’ll have taken this risk for nothing and might miss this heaven-sent opportunity.” Xianxian gazed at the illusory qilin before her, her expression grave as she posed the question.
“What, still don’t trust me now? Have my previous pointers ever been wrong? If not for the immense benefits you gained from the ruins I told you about earlier, you wouldn’t have achieved what you have today. With your Crystal Clan’s innate talents, reaching your current level in just a few centuries would be considered prodigious among your people.” The qilin phantom raised its head lazily as it spoke.
“From the day I was born, you and I have been in a symbiotic state. If anything happens to me, you’ll perish as well—how could I not trust you? But you’re just a fragment of the original qilin’s divine sense. It’s not impossible for you to misremember or forget something. I’m just feeling a bit uneasy.” The Crystal Clan woman stared at the miniature qilin before her, her tone calm and unruffled.
“True! I’m merely one of the 100,000 fragments of that qilin’s divine sense after its self-detonation. Back then, it was cornered by a formidable enemy and on the verge of annihilation—even without self-destructing, it couldn’t have escaped. Though it ultimately used an earth-defying technique to split its divine sense into 100,000 fragments, it did so to ensure a chance at rebirth and future cultivation. The most crucial information was meticulously preserved in each fragment. This True Spirit Cave is one of those key pieces. Rest assured, there won’t be any mistakes.” The tiny qilin chuckled darkly.
“Indeed. I owe my current cultivation level to you latching onto me when I was still a fetus. But originally, you intended to use my body for rebirth. I still don’t know why you failed and ended up in this symbiotic bond with my soul, but you certainly didn’t have good intentions back then.” Xianxian’s eyes flashed as she smirked.
“Why bring that up now? I didn’t succeed, did I? It was my misfortune to attach to you—had I chosen someone else, I might’ve been free long ago.” The miniature qilin’s aura flickered violently, its mood clearly souring.
“Enough. Do you really think I don’t know what happened back then? In the small Crystal Clan village where I was born, I was the only unborn fetus at the time. You simply thought it’d be easier to possess a body whose soul hadn’t fully formed yet.” Xianxian giggled.
“By then, my divine sense was nearly exhausted after escaping. Naturally, I sought the easiest host. Otherwise, even one 100,000th of a true spirit’s divine sense could’ve easily taken over an adult Crystal Clan member—why would I have chosen you?” The qilin snorted helplessly.
“Fine. Let’s not dwell on the past. Though your rebirth failed, you survived. Entering the True Spirit Cave now benefits us both, so we can’t afford any mistakes. Otherwise, I’ve hit a bottleneck in my cultivation—even after centuries, I might not progress much further. If not for that, I’d wait until I was stronger before seeking the cave. It’d take longer, but it’d be safer than venturing into the Ink Gold Mountains with two beings stronger than me.” The Crystal Clan woman mused thoughtfully.
“Your clan’s innate talents are limited. Even with my guidance and the spiritual medicines you’ve consumed, rapid progress like before is unlikely. Delaying further would only be counterproductive. That said, if the True Spirit Cave weren’t occupied by that injured Saint-tier demonic beast, you’d be better off acting alone despite the risks.” The qilin phantom paused before adding, “Don’t worry. You’ve prepared countermeasures against those two, haven’t you? If they harbor no ill intent, all’s well. But if they do, those measures—even against beings several tiers stronger—will catch them off guard.”
“Ordinary beings? Are you implying one of them isn’t ordinary? Could my measures fail?” The sharp-witted woman tensed, catching the implication instantly.
“You’ve only met them twice. Though I’m hidden within you, I sensed something off. Yue Zong’s aura fluctuates unpredictably, and a faint killing intent lingers around him. If I’m not mistaken, he cultivates a ruthless technique focused on stealth and one-hit kills, likely supplemented by other arts to navigate the Ink Gold Mountains safely. But compared to that Han Li fellow, he’s only slightly unusual—nothing to worry about. Han Li’s cultivation far surpasses Yue Zong’s, and his techniques are profoundly complex. Even I find him dangerous. Still, the methods I’ve given you are the most potent at your disposal, especially the life-saving ones. Even if you can’t kill them, escaping unscathed is guaranteed.” The miniature qilin spoke with confidence.
“If you say so, I’ll rest easier. But more than that, I’ve been worried about something else.” Xianxian exhaled softly, her eyes glinting.
“Oh? What is it?” The qilin’s tail flicked curiously.
“When the qilin’s divine sense self-destructed, its remnants split into over 100,000 fragments to escape. You weren’t the only one to survive—others must know the cave’s location too. After centuries, someone might’ve already looted it. We could be wasting our efforts.” She chose her words carefully.
“Though the fragments were numerous, very few escaped intact. After accounting for failed possessions and other mishaps, it’s uncertain if any others remain. Even if they do, after all these years, they’d have developed independent personalities, resistant to assimilation. Until we open the cave, we won’t know for sure, but I doubt it’s been compromised.” The qilin’s tone turned grave.
“I hope so. If we secure the cave’s treasures, my cultivation will soar.” Xianxian murmured to herself.
“Heh, true. Otherwise, why would I have preserved this information so meticulously?” The qilin quipped.
Xianxian smiled faintly but didn’t respond.
The miniature qilin circled her before abruptly saying, “Enough. That Han Li has keen spiritual sense. Avoid contacting me unnecessarily during the journey to prevent detection. Next time we speak, it’d best be inside the True Spirit Cave.”
With that, the phantom merged into her body and vanished.
Sighing, she stepped into a teleportation array. A flash of light later, she was gone.
Three days later, atop a small mountain near Cloud City, a plainly dressed young man in green robes stood on a boulder, hands behind his back, surveying the verdant landscape below.
Motionless and serene, it was Han Li, who’d arrived early as agreed.
The morning sun had just risen, and he savored the rare tranquility, inhaling deeply as his mood lifted.
He didn’t wait long. Within half an hour, his expression shifted, and he turned to the sky.
Soon, a crimson streak shot through the air, landing beside him. The light faded, revealing Yue Zong.
“Greetings, Senior Han. Apologies for making you wait.” Yue Zong clasped his hands respectfully.
“No matter. I came early by choice.” Han Li’s face betrayed nothing.
Yue Zong smiled and settled cross-legged nearby, while Han Li remained atop the boulder.
Shortly after, Xianxian arrived in a streak of white light. As she descended, Han Li’s brow twitched, and Yue Zong rose.
“Fairy Xianxian is here. Now that we’re all present, let’s depart.” Han Li wasted no time, transforming into a green streak and soaring skyward.
Yue Zong and Xianxian followed without hesitation.
A month’s journey wasn’t overly long, and with another month in the Ink Gold Mountains, they’d return to Cloud City in three months if all went well.
Lost in thought, Han Li sped onward.
The journey passed uneventfully.
A month later, after traversing nameless mountain ranges, an endless sea of azure mist appeared ahead.
“The Verdant Cloud Sea—the barrier around the Ink Gold Mountains and the only entrance. Attempting to breach it elsewhere is suicide.” Yue Zong’s eyes gleamed with excitement.
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